SHAPEABLE GUIDE CATHETERS AND RELATED METHODS
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Accused Products
Abstract
Shapeable guide catheters and methods for manufacturing and using such shapeable guide catheters. In one embodiment, the shapeable guide catheter comprises a tubular member having a shapeable region, a malleable shaping member attached to the shapeable region such that, when the shape of the shapeable region is changed from a first shape to a second shape, the shaping member will plastically deform to thereafter substantially hold the shapeable region in the second shape, a tubular outer jacket disposed about the outer surface of the tubular member and a tubular inner jacket disposed within the lumen of the tubular member. The shapeable region of the guide catheter may be manually formed into a desired shape before insertion of the guide catheter into the body. In some embodiments, the guide catheter is sized to be inserted through a nostril of a human patient and used to guide the transnasal insertion of another device (e.g., a guidewire, catheter, etc.) to a desired location within the nose, throat, ear or cranium of the subject.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1-49. -49. (canceled)
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50. A method for dilating an opening in a head of a human or animal subject, the method comprising:
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(a) bending a shapeable region of a shapeable guide member to a desired shape to facilitate advancement of a distal end of the guide member to a desired location, wherein the shapeable region is located closer to a distal end of the guide member than to a proximal end of the guide member, wherein the shapeable region substantially retains the desired shape after bending, wherein the act of bending is performed by a human operator; (b) inserting the guide member, distal end first, into a head of the subject to position the distal end of the guide member at or near an opening in a paranasal sinus; (c) advancing a balloon along the guide member to position the balloon within the paranasal sinus opening; and (d) expanding the balloon within the paranasal sinus opening to break or remodel bone forming the opening and thereby dilate the opening. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A method for dilating an opening in a head of a human or animal subject, the method comprising:
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(a) bending a shapeable region of a shapeable guide member to a desired shape to facilitate advancement of a distal end of the guide member to a desired location, wherein the shapeable region is located closer to a distal end of the guide member than to a proximal end of the guide member, wherein the shapeable region substantially retains the desired shape after bending, wherein the act of bending is performed by a human operator; (b) inserting the guide member, distal end first, into a head of the subject to position the distal end of the guide member at or near the opening in the head of the subject; (c) advancing a balloon along the guide member to position the balloon within the opening in the head of the subject; and (d) expanding the balloon within the opening in the head of the subject to thereby dilate the opening. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68)
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69. A method for dilating an opening in a head of a human or animal subject, the method comprising:
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(a) bending a shapeable region of a shapeable guide member to a desired shape to facilitate advancement of a distal end of the guide member to a desired location, wherein the shapeable region is located closer to a distal end of the guide member than to a proximal end of the guide member, wherein the shapeable region substantially retains the desired shape after bending, wherein the act of bending is performed by a human operator; (b) securing an endoscope to the guide member via one or more connectors; (c) inserting the guide member, distal end first, into a head of the subject to position the distal end of the guide member at or near the opening in the head of the subject; (d) visualizing the distal end of the guide member with the endoscope; (e) advancing a balloon along the guide member to position the balloon within the opening in the head of the subject; and (f) expanding the balloon within the opening in the head of the subject to thereby dilate the opening.
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Specification